Index tab



July 7, 1925. 1,544,818

G. H. DAWSON INDEX TAB Filed Feb. 26, 1924 6 607 6,71: pawsoro,

6 M ly/ Patented July-7,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IiEbBGE HJDAWBOII', or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGROR TO LIBRARY-BUREAU,

' OI OAIBRIDGB, mSLGHUBE'ITB, A CORPORATION 01' m JERSEY.

man: man.

Appllatian filed February at, 19st. semi ll'o. seam.

Toallwhmnitmycmwem:

Be it known that I,Gnonon H. Dawson, a citizen of the United States of America and resident of Boston, in the countyl o Sufl'olk and State of Massachusetts, ave invented new and useful Im rovernents 111 Index Tabs, at which the ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to indexes and artab ticularly to the constructionof the ta of ,a heavy still card such as is commonly in connection wi I movable label, endt the of the la 1; and t6 1 smooth ed employed as'a guide or divider to separate into groups thecards, folders or other index matter constituting a filing system of the so-called vertical ty The principal o to provide a novel form of metal tab' having an unusuallylarge sight opening or window for dis laying the label or index slip butyet su ciently stifl and strong to serve as a handle for turning over the index material to rovide a tab capable of use either a permanent or reatter case efiectively to revent'accidental loss or removal provide a tab having s agreeabe to the touch of the user; whic is reinforced to make it relativel stifier than the sheet material from .-.whic it is stamped; and whose ed es so snugly enga the surface of the car that "-it is impossi e for papersto enter, and catch h upper illustrating a eapplication of card havin "a" manentlabe The ca 'boj '1 is made of cardboard, fibreboard, or (it or suitable stiff and heavy sheet m sists of a,piece of resilientsheet material such for-example as steel doubled or folded at 2 to providefsubstantially rectangular rear grit of the invention is discloses fastening means suitable a vertical section large scale the tab to a- The tab forming the imme J diate sub ect matter of the invention con front and" rear flaps or leaves 3 and '4, re-

spectively.

The flapls are of shallow, dished formation with slig tly rolled or incurved mar ins forming smoothly rounded or-convex orders or flanges Kind 6, res tively, whose edges turn inwardly, t us imparting strength and a finished appearance to the Sight openings or windows Tend 8'are preferably provided in both the front and flaps adjacent to the fold line 2, although If desired the window in the rear fla may be omitted.

an intended for label as illustrated in.Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the tab straddles over the plain upper marg n 9 of the card and the front and rear flaps are connected to each other and to the card by fasteners 10 which extend through the body of the card. The petant to Hunter 905,319, December 1 for the purpose consisting of integral tubular rivets struck up from the -front He and extending through the thickness o the card and throu h openings in the rear flap, the

inst

ends of te rivets turning over,- ,a the rear face of the latter flap. Other orms of connection may be employed if desired.

In the riveting o ration the central portions of the dished h 1% toward the card thus causing the edges of t eir flanged margins to bite into the surface of ioint.

. In placing the tab over the edge of the card,1ts closed upper end is spaced from the cards prope distance to provide a label receivmg poc et 11. When the tab is r veted to the card, those portions or 1i s 5" and 6 of the inturned margins of the aps which are above the upper edge of the card spring toward each ot er forming partial closings for the ends of the label-holding 00 e a l i r i p Any suitabldlahel ma be placed in the pocket by sliding it en wise between the ips 5 and 6. A label suitable for the urpose is disclosed in the atent to ale, $70,424, March 1,1921; T is label consists of a shp of paper 12,.bearing the desired indicia andprotected by a trans arent sheath 13 of celluloid or the like. 0 in ape are sprung mward the card forminga closed, and tight I so use with a removable sert such a label in the pocket its parts are pinched together to rmit them to pass etween the lips 5 an 6 and when the entire label has been positioned within the pocket its parts spring awa from each other sufiiciently to prevent its accidental escape from the pocket.

In Fig. 5 the tab is shown as applied to a card 1' having an upstanding ear 14 constituting a permanent label. The desired indicia are a plied directly to the front face and also, i desired, to the rear face) of t e ear 14, and a transparent sheath 15 is slipped over the ear to protect its surfaces when the are ex osed at. the'windows in the tab. he tab is then straddled -over the ear, the upper edge of the. latter being disposed closel ad acent to the fold line of the tab so t at t e ear itself determines the depth of the label-receivin pocket and the front and rear leaves 3 an 4' of the tab are secured'to the card in the manner above described.

The tab is referably slightly wider than the ear 14 when in pos tion its inturned edges substantially meet along the lateral margins of the cam-thus protecting the latter and providing a smooth finish for the pro'ectin portion of the tab.

he ta above described has several advanta among them its one-piece construction, which ermits it to be manufactured cheapl an to be applied to the cards without difliculty or loss of time. It is shaped to provide a wide bearing on the card so that when employed as a handle the card is not easily cracked or broken out. The incurved margins of the opposing flaps of the tab constitute strengthening ribs or flanges which greatly stifien the tab, particularly the projecting portion thereof, thus optionally emitting the employment of lighter weiglit andconsequently cheaper material or the enlargement of the si ht opening or window to an extent greater t an usually permissible, without detracting from its desired rigidity and durability. These inturned edges or flanges also tend to bite firmly into the surface of the card, thus assisting the rivets or other securin means in holding the tab in position, at t e same time forming so tight a joint with the card that thin paper can not sli between the card and tab to be caught an possibly torn or misplaced. These inturned margins also constitute partial end closures for the ends of the label pockets as above pointed out and at the same time provide a smooth rounded ed for the projecting ortion of the tab which is frequentl emp oyed as a handle for turning the car s.

Obviously sheet material other than steel may be em loyed in makin the tab. For example, stifi sheet celluloi might be employed, and if transparent, no windows or means engaging the central sight openings would be necessary, while many of the advantages of the im roved construction, such for example as stiffness, durabilit and the formation of a close joint wit the cardwould be retained.

I claim: L

1. An index cardcomprising a tab of 'resilient sheet material havinghdattaching flap provided with marginal flanges, and

flap' for permanently uniting ltto the card, said latter means acting to s ring the central portion of the flap mwar ly whereby to draw the flanges thereof into close engagement with the surface of the card. i

2. An index card comprising a tab of resilient sheet metal having an attaching flap of shallpw dished1 firiirmation inturne margina an an rivets. permanently securing the 3) to the card, said portion of the roviding an a rivets en aging the flap intermediate its edges an sprin ng its central part toward the card where y resiliently to hold the flange in biting engagement with the sur face of the card.1 v Y 3. An index card having a tab comprising front and rear flaps of shallow dishedfformation providing inwardly bent marginal portions, and means permanently securin the tab to the card with the inwardly directed edges of its flaps en 'ng the front and rear surfaces respective y of the card.

4. An index card having a tab comprising a piece of sheet material doubled to form front and rear flaps, the flaps having window apertures, and havin edges turned inwardly, said tab strad ing the edges of the card, and means permanently securing the flaps to the card with the inturned edges of t e flaps engaging the; 0pposite faces respectively of the card.

5. An index card having a tab com rising a piece of sheet metal doubled to orm front and rear flaps, said tab straddlingthe edge of the card and having its fold s aced" from the edge of the card to form a abe1-' receiving| pocket, and means permanently securing t e lie 3 to the card, marginal portions of the d partial closures for the ends of the receiving pocket.

6. An index card having a tab comprising a piece of sheet metal doubled to'provide front and rear flaps, sald flaps having window apertures at points adjacent to the fold line and the tab straddling the edge of the card with its fold line spaced from the latter to form a label-receiving pocket, means permanently securing the flaps to the card, and an inturned marginal flange extending from the fold line around the entire border flap, portions of said flan s constitutin partial closures for the on s of the la receiving pocket and other portions enga ing and biting into the surface of the car t aps being turned in to form labeltheir mar inal 7. An index card having a sheet metal tab comprising integrally united front and rear flaps provided with window apertures, the flaps being disposed upon opposite sides of 8 the card and permanently secured thereto with their apertured portions proj eating beyond the edge of the card, and a stiffening rib or flange extending-along the projecting portion of each flap at either side of the win- 10 dow aperture therein.

' 8. An index card having a tab com rising a piece of sheet material folded to orm front and rear flaps, said flaps having window openings therein, the tab straddling the edge of the card with its, flap disposed upon opposite sides thereof respectively and ernianently secured thereto with the fold 'ne of the tab spaced from the edge of the card proper to form a integrally from said edge of the card into the pocket and constituting a ermanent label, and a lip extending alongt e projectingportion of each flap adjacent to each lateral margin thereof, said. lips partially closing the sides of the pocket.

- Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this sixth day (if February 1924.

GEORGE ii. DAWSON.

ocket, an ear projecting 7. An index card having a sheet metal tab comprising integrally united front and rear flaps provided with window apertures, the flaps being disposed upon opposite sides of 6 the card and permanently secured thereto with their apertnred portions projecting be yond the edge of the card, and a stiifening rib or flange extending along the projecting portion of each flap at either side of the win- 10 dow aperture therein.

8. An index card having a tab comprising a piece of sheet material folded to orm front and rear flaps, said flaps having window openings therein, the tab straddling the edge of the card with its flap disposed upon opposite sides thereof respectively and permanently secured thereto with the fold line of the tab spaced from the edge of the card roper to form a ocket, an ear projecting integrally from said edge of the card into L Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,544,818, granted July 7, 1995, upon the application of George H Dawson, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Index Tabs, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows; Page 2, line 103, claim 4, for the word edges read edge; same page, line 126, claim 6, after the word border insert the words of each; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ollice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of August, A. D. 1925.

KARL FENNING, Acting Umnmissioner of Patents.

Certificgte of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,544,818, granted July 7, 1995, upon the application of George H. Dawson, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Index Tabs, errors appear-in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 103, claim 4, for the word edges read edge; same page, line 126, claim 6, after the word border inwrt the words of each,- and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these-corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of August, A. D. 1925.

[m] KARL FENNING,

Acting C'mnma'xaiomar of Patents. 

